High Level Event III - Where are the Jobs - Kigali, 21 May 2014

Panelists:
Hon. Akinwunmi Adesina, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria
Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Prof. Justin Lin, Peking University, Beijing, China
Mr. V. Shankar, CEO for Africa, Europe, Middle East and Americas, Standard Chartered Bank.

Description:

Africa's global potential is dependent on how well it uses its window of opportunity to embark on industrialization. The point of departure is that few countries have attained a sustainable level of economic development and reduced poverty without a large and vibrant industrial sector, spearheaded by manufacturing activities -- which provide economic growth, employment, and economic diversification. As a result, many African countries are still at the initial stages of gaining access to Global Value Chains (GVCs) beyond natural resource exports.

Issues for Discussion:
1. What does Africa need to do to develop global value chains and move up the productivity ladder?
2. Some natural resource-based sectors do not translate into jobs and employment opportunities. How can Africa ensure that its natural resources -- particularly the extractive industries -- serve as the entry point for the global value chains?
Agro-business can also be Africa's entry point to the global value chains. What should be the balancing act between agro-business and food insecurity in the continent?